Norwich’s Hotaling pitches two-hit shutout

NORWICH – Norwich finished off its week with back-to-back wins, and freshman pitcher Mackay Hotaling threw hits first career shutout on Friday.

Hotaling fanned nine, did not walk a batter, and surrendered just two hits to Whitney Point. “It was a great defensive game, and we had excellent pitching from Mackay,” said Norwich coach John Martinson. “He really had his curveball working today.”

Hotaling and Brock Kossman also led Norwich’s hitting with two hits apiece. Kossman added a single RBI and a run scored in the victory.

SHERBURNE – Sherburne-Earlville clinched a tie for the Center State Conference division title winning its tenth straight game Friday, while also completing a season sweep of 2008 division champion Cooperstown.

Trailing by one run early, S-E put together a five-run third inning to take the lead – all the runs coming in with two outs.

Mike Doscher went 4-for-4 to lead S-E (8-0, 13-3), and his RBI single tied the game at 1-1. Steve Buddenhagen singled to right for the go-ahead run, and Jake Sampson along with Mike McCredy followed with RBI doubles. Joe Moses completed the uprising with an RBI single. Doscher also scored three runs. Sampson finished with two hits and two RBI to support winning pitcher Caleb Brown.

Brown won his seventh game this season striking out nine and walking one. “We just started stroking the ball (in the third),” said S-E coach Brian Hicks. “Doscher is our sparkplug. Once he gets on base, good things start to happen.”